Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1887-04-22
A woaDKnFUL sPKEcM.
History 81 Liaeein's Famous Geasys-
barg 0Faalen.

88FH Wf1A18Ls
From the Detroit Tri5Ens.l
81 SAY one Of the most splendid of
compositions in the English tongue
written said ex-Csnersssnsa Edward
Mcpherson. while chatting about some
OF his Fec0iIections OF Lincoln, recently.
81 believe that Il 10 admitted now BY
scholars that for snblimity of thought,
and yet elegance Of exeres-
sion, lucidity and purity Of dicsiOn. Mr..
Lincoln's bFief Grafton a. the dedica-
ton Of the Nation4i Q meteFg at Gettys
burg takes place With the loftiest speci-
mems Of eFatory. Many regard il as the
one Grafton Of this country, that will be
preserved With the EaRllsh tongue. Yes
Mr.. Lincoln wrote 10 on bis knee in g
railroad Car. Il vas practically an ex-
temporaHe0us composition; that is, in
the sense thRs Il was wholly aupremedi-
tated. he simply committed to paper
the thought that vas appermost IN hrs
mind. and be had no IDEA Ghatevsr that
be had written anything more than q
p&ssine thought In the event that be
was TO assist 10 commemoratinQ.
IL represented the Gettysburg district
in Congress at the time of the battle,
dr. Lincoln was my guest. He was not
sure that be could be present when be
was first asked, bat said that he should
90 to GettysbarR IL possible. ! think
he was not prepared TO say positively
he would 80 until very few hours be-
fore the time set for leaving WAshisg.
ton. So he could not have given any
thought 10 the orstion before. l was
a - A. - Ira "a ID -
talked pleasantly. be spoke Of the coun-
Try through whish We were passing, yet
/ thought be was laboring with one Of
those spells Of profound Mechanically
with which be vas AZ times All icsed.
he spoke Of Mr.. Everett, Who was TO de-
liver the chief Grafton, and said that
Mr.. Everett had given more than his
usual care In preparing this grafton
and looked upon his work as q master
pieoe, and believe that told Mr. Lin.
coin 90. and be said that the theme
was great enough TO inspire sach an
orator as Everett 70 bis best. Mr.. Lin
ooln, think, had not thought Of saying
anything himself. bat 1 told him that
be would Be expeetea to make few 70
marks, for il would not be permitted
him TO b silent. He sat for some mo
msnts absorbed IN thoaRht, and at last
began 10 feel in his pockets a. IL fer
looes paper. asked hin II be wanted
paper and pencil, and be said, 'Yes. .
scrap Of paper" and / opened my va
lise and gave bin tvo or three sheets Of
nste paper. he drew ap bis long knees,
and. putting q beck on them. wrote :
iottine down, IS I supposed. . few
beads or Suggestions. He wrote right
along without hesitation or erasare, and
nlle1 one page and part Of another.
Then be folded il up and pat il in his
pocket, simply saying thas be had set
Down few lines that had occurred to
him 70 say.
-At the cemetery. at the proper time,
be arose, put on his specsaoles and drew
these sheets from his pocket. l do not
think be had looked at them again after
writing them In the ears. and in q lov
voice. vhioh could Be heard bat q few
fest away from the stage, he Rad these
splendid lines. The few Who heard him
we're most profoundly impressed, but
upon the wash throne Who saw him the
Grafton made no impression whatever,
because few heard it. No proper report
OF The Grafton vas made. and Mr.. Lin
coin eFumplsd the manuscripts 40 and
uoald very likely have thrown 10 away
II | had nOa asked hiA for IL. Il wss
not until it bad been printed in q news
pager and when widely copied that its
wonderful beauty, both In thought and
literary workmanship. vas recognized,
and Mr.. Lincoln vas very much sur
prised 10 learn shas scholars we're qlot-
ing u ~ the best m0del Of pure English
and true elcQueDes the language had
furnished. 81 least IN AmeFics."